SOUTHERN DOWNTOWN

Southern Downtown - rarely visited by tourists. The same applies to the residents of Warsaw. Certainly they would be surprised what you can find here.
It provides a counterbalance to the modern part of the city situated on the other side of Jerusalem Avenue. Large fragments of this district were happily rescued during World War II. It gives them a value. We enter the world of Warsaw at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries - beautiful Art Nouveau decorations, the tenements of Artur Gurney a'la castle, and the existing coffee shop of the Polonia Hotel, where coffee is served with apricot liqueur.

It is hard to believe that in the era of post-war socialist realism, just a few steps away from its symbol which is the Palace of Culture and Science, Ufficio Primo was erected, referring to the palaces of Florentine bankers. Perhaps an even greater surprise is when you enter this extraordinary building.

During our walk, it is worth to see a forgotten courtyard with a statue of Our Lady, where during the occupation the inhabitants tried to keep the appearance of normality. In this place they prayed after curfew, often vows were concluded here.

Coffee break or refreshment can be in the Hala Koszyki. More than 100-year-old building was in 2016 completely restored and today encourages with it’s very interesting interior to stop, relax or shopping.

Full of interesting burgher houses Lwowska Street leads to the Polytechnic Square dominated by one of the most beautiful buildings of polytechnic universities in Europe. The main building of the Warsaw University of Technology is a typical example of architecture relating to the style of the Italian Renaissance and Baroque. The two-storey façade with rounded corners is decorated with very popular in the second half of the nineteenth century  motifs of the twin Corinthian columns separated by arcades. It is imperative to see the interior. A large circular courtyard is covered by a glass mosaic roof.

At the end of our wandering around Downtown South again we return to the socialist realist concept of post-war reconstruction, which is the Constitution Square. However, regardless of its "political" context, it should be noted that this is the only square in Warsaw with uniform architectural dress, which gives it some beauty. Moreover, it is not well known that the architects designing the Constitution Square largely relate to the beautiful facades of 1910s buildings located on Mazowiecka Street. Incredible but true. Famous "candelabras" of the square - it is another story.